Police saddle up for annual rodeo

Sherri Zickefoose, Calgary Herald08.15.2013

Calgary police officer Ray Lewis, originally from the U.K., high fives his parents Phil and Jen, and brother Dave while visiting the Calgary Corn Maze on Thursday. Lewis, who works under cover will have his family in the stands when he competes in bull riding at the Calgary Police Rodeo in Airdrie on Saturday.Gavin Young
/ Calgary Herald

Calgary police officer Ray Lewis, shown at the Calgary Police Rodeo two years ago, will get on a bull for the second time in his life Saturday for this year’s event at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo Grounds.Ray Lewis
/ Calgary Herald

But the tables may be turned when he climbs onto the back of a bucking bull, trading in his police badge for a rodeo buckle.

Courage and a touch of crazy will be riding side by side Saturday as Calgary’s finest try their hand riding horses and bulls for the 31st annual Calgary Police Rodeo.

It will be the second time Lewis — who arrived in Calgary from Britain five years ago — has ever ridden a bull.

“When you’re in the police, you’ve got all this support around you, you’ve got great friends you work alongside, but when you’re sitting on this thing and the gate swings open, it’s down to you,” said Lewis, 39.

“You’re only here once, let’s give it a go. It will all be over in a flash.”

Fellow officers signed up an unwitting Lewis for bull riding at the rodeo two years ago.

But despite having no background in horseback riding — or anything rodeo — Lewis gritted his teeth and went for it.

“It was incredible, it was an amazing adrenalin rush for such a very short space of time. It was pretty much, ‘I need to get off this animal as quickly as possible,’ ” said Lewis, a married father of two. “As soon as you fall off it, you’ll want to get back on and do better.”

For Lewis, whose job with the fugitive apprehension squad sees him square off with convicted killers and other violent offenders, the one-of-a-kind police rodeo is offering his visiting relatives from overseas a chance to see a bit of the wild west.

“I think he’s crazy. He’s mad. It should be good fun,” said father Phil.

Lewis says the event has given him a healthy respect for the work that goes into rodeo and the cowboy way.

“There’s so much preparation that goes into it. They are immensely brave and amazing athletes to do what they do,” said Lewis, who hails from Southampton.

“My incidents are about having a bit of fun and hoping to walk out of the arena under my own steam.”

This year’s rodeo — the only police rodeo in North America — features 125 Canadian police officers of all ranks, sheriffs and invited guests from the Calgary Fire Department and EMS.

The full-event rodeo was originally for Calgary police only, but was opened several years ago to any police officer. Family members can also compete.

The event also raises funds for the Missing Children Society of Canada.

“This event is an opportunity to spend the day together and have an impact on the ongoing success of the program,” said Calgary Det. Mike Cavilla, the rodeo president and a former bull rider who has competed around the province.

Last year, the rodeo raised $10,000 for the cause.

“The support we receive from the Calgary Police Rodeo plays a pivotal role in ensuring the longevity of this program,” said Amanda Pick, executive director of the Missing Children Society of Canada.

The rodeo is held Saturday at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo Grounds. Tickets are available at the gate.

Grounds open at 8 a.m. with a children’s carnival, petting zoo and wagon rides.

The rodeo begins at 1 p.m., followed by the annual barn dance at 8 p.m., featuring Nashville performer Drew Gregory.

The Airdrie Pro Rodeo Grounds are 10 km west of Highway 2 on Highway 567, on the north side of Airdrie.

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